of his Mistris as he perceiued not whē he was entered therfore he came neer vnto him and saluted him whilest the other stood stone still like vnto a Rocke resembling that statue of salt into which the wife of Lot was turned which the old Magitian perceiuing he came and pulled him by the sleeue saying How now man what cheare where is your minde now and why suffer you it so long before it doe his ordinarie duetie That dammage which a sencelesse creature doth ouer whom his Maister hath power is laid vpon him and not vpon the beast We ought wisely to rule what is committed vnto vs to gouerne which if it be so then why doest not thou looke vnto thy soule but rather doest permit her to wander thus abroad seeing that without her thou see-mest as a dead creature Call home for shame call home I say thy wits together and resolue to submit thy selfe vnto the iudgement of the Gods and to doe as they shall command thee for our griefes moue not them neither doe our teares appease their rigour towards vs. Ah Father answered the Shepheard how can he who hath no more power ouer his slaue because he hath past ouer his freedome vnto another dispose of him and command him as he was wont and how wilt thou that I beare sway ouer my soule hauing none within me since I haue resigned it vnto my Ladie who disposeth thereof as she best pleaseth And herein I resemble that miserable marchant whose ship being driuen against a Rocke scarce saueth his naked selfe hauing before seene all his goods and seruants to be cast away and drowned or rather I am like vnto that haplesse Duke of Ithaca who hauing but one poore leaking vessell got a shore through the helpe of the Sea Nymph Can he whom the cruell Law hath subiected vnder the will of another and being his poore drudge and slaue doe as he faine would and dispose of himselfe as he listeth You know he cannot neither can I doe as I would but as I may for I am my Mistris slaue and although she is not with me yet my heart which serueth in steed of a Table vnto Loue to draw her beautifull conceit presenteth her euery minute before me so as I seeme to see her liuely the sight whereof doth take away my sences from me for worthy things causeth vs to burne in loue of them and with a sweet kinde of force drawe vs of our owne accord to come vnto them Then maruaile no more though thou findest me thus out of temper If meere griefe be of power to procure death then what may Loue doe which not onely seazeth vpon the bodie but likewise vpon the soule scarce had I wet the soales of my feete entring into this wide Ocean of sundrie conceits when thou withdrewest me from the same as that carefull father doth his harmelesse child from the brim of some pit wherein he might fall and be drowned But alas what wouldest thou haue me to doe Suffer me I pray thee and let me alone in my musing for there is nothing more pleasant vnto a wofull man then to dreame of such delights as he hath once tasted because as then he thinketh still to tast them I was dreaming of that contentment which the companie of my Diana hath heretofore brought me why then hast thou disturbed me in the same when perhaps I shall not encounter with so sweet a thought I know not when againe and the rather for that a leuen houres and three quarters of a day are destined for the mishap of man and onely one poore quarter appointed for his contentment of which small space of time many haue bene depriued in the number of which I am the chiefe No no replied the old man Not to thinke of misfortunes maketh a man as happie as if he had neuer bene afflicted with any for he cannot be said to be sicke that liueth without any feeling of griefe or disease so he is not wretched that neuer remembreth his former disasters the thought whereof is the occasion that maketh vs so sad Driue then these idle fancies out of thy braine Hardly could courteous Dido entreate the wandring Prince of Troy to repeate and report the ouerthrow of his countrie although he was much beholding vnto her for irkesome is the calling to minde of such matters Away then with these toyes and begin thy discourse where thou last didst leaue which will like thee better and the rather when thou shalt account thy happie fortunes Ah good father answered Arcas neuer hath my tongue bene vsed to talke of any good fortune that hath hapned vnto me heretofore for few or none haue I had but onely to sigh forth my strange and wofull losses What Sunne haue these my drerie eyes euer beheld without new floods of teares and what darkesome night hath couered them with neuer so heauie a sleepe but that fresh griefes haue growne before the breake of day within my soule My wofull pilgrimage in this vnconstant world hath alwaies bene vnluckie dismall and vnfortunate and therefore I would to God that death had abridged the same But why should you thinke that I could liue and languish thus without bethinking me of my losse Nothing pincheth the heart more then a mans ouerthrow because it is long before he can recouer himselfe againe and for that it will aske much labour and paine yea it is so deeply inprinted within vs that although we haue in time repaired and amended our selues yet still there remaineth some one marke or another that galleth vs euen at the very quicke Who euer sawe man hauing endured great hinderance and mishaps but that he sometimes thinketh thereon yea and now and then bewaileth the same although he haue neuer so great a courage We are all good registers of such aduersities as happen vnto vs but not of prosperitie and sooner can we call to minde an iniurie done vnto vs then remember a benefit or good turne which we haue receiued for this old sinne of our great grandlire Adam draweth vs alwaies rather vnto bad then good This is the reason that men for the most part are naturally giuen sooner to slaunder then to defend the good name and credit of their neighbous and so likewise this is the cause I so liuely feele and apprehend the remembrance of my calamities not wishing any thing so much as to be confined within some Rocke alone like a Recluse to the end I might the better meditate vpon them and the more bitterly bewaile them Now quoth the old gray-beard I see thou art in the wrong for we must not haue our eyes alwaies vpon the earth but sometimes we must as well looke vp towards heauen Wherefore serueth this diuine reason which maketh vs Lords ouer all other creatures if by her aide we repulse not such mortall passions as come into the world with vs And to what end doth a father send his Sonne vnto the Vniuersitie most willingly defraving
men sing when they are at point of death esteeming themselues right blessed for to die whereas the Louer not beloued againe butchereth and killeth himselfe running headlong into all dangers and as one furious looseth all patience and all good hopes to come Man endureth resolutely all other accidents of misfortunes which ordinarily happen vnto him but being plagued with Loue it rauisheth and bereaueth him of his vertue and valour and of his constancie and welfare Therfore is he more mighty then all other things which eyther descend from Heauen or proceed from forth the earth Mightie indeed must I needes say hee is quoth the Shepheard yet I esteeme him but as vnwise that maketh any account of vniust puissance Without Iustice kingdomes are but robberies and without reason the Gods also are but sinners and therefore vnworthie of that name If euery one were iust what neede should we haue then of Lawes and compulsions Doest thou make account of Loue because hee is strong and violent why so is the Sea tempestuous strong violent rough and of great power but are his waters as wholesome fresh sweet and good as are those of springs and lesser fountaines Knowledge is a glorie to him that possesseth the same in seruing himselfe wisely and discreetely but as hee maketh it a refuge for vice and a support to such wrongs and iniuries as he putteth in practise it is his vtter ruine and ouerthrowe Bad force for a time may compell to be obeyed but it is quickly gone the feare thereof also dying with the same where contrariwise Iustice purchased without compulsion to Signorise and dominere ouer mens soules is alwayes highly honored Nothing that is built vpon rigor can long endure the self-same force driuing forcibly away the first violence but Iustice neuer ouerthroweth the works of Iustice An Example for that they are vpright and worthy of life I confesse indeed not a little to my griefe that I am the slaue of Loue for sometimes a Prince hapneth to be the vassaile of a simple meane Captaine and in as much as men borne to suffer are bondmen by Fortune vassels of the earth God disposeth of them according vnto his owne will But the sick patient often blameth his discase which he feeleth imagineth to be little or nothing dangerous at all and yet neurethelesse cannot he rid himselfe of the same when hee fainest would The Beare for want of knowing his owne strength yeeldeth vnto a lesse force for man is perfect in knowledge yet because bee wants the right vse thereof hee is but as a burning Candle vnder a bushell And as for Loue my conceit is that yeelding vnto him I obey the least power that is in heauen or on earth And I am of an other opinion answered the olde man for I thinke it can no way turne vnto discredit to render seruice vnto him whom the greatest Gods deuoutly honour The Seruant ought not to scorne to attend vpon him to whome his Maister himselfe doth belong The Gods replied the Shepheard honored Loue whil'st he lent them his hand A Sentence and assisted them in their voluptuous pastimes Profit oftentimes is the cause that a man doth reuerence vnto such a one as he esteemeth to be a farre worse man then himselfe We cannot said the olde man tearme that thing lesse then our selues which hath power to command ouer vs And if wee be obedient vnto Loue then is he more diuine and great then wee our selues are Indeed replyed the Shepheard he is mightier in malice but leaude behauiour and mischieuousnes cannot be registred amongst the Catalogue of Famous enterprises Then is not he mightie that maketh men illustrious in this pointe but rather weake and of no reckening inas-much as puissance with the defect is as drosse and base trash and Vertue though it be poore is an eternall treasure And yet for all this answered the olde man the most learned erected Altars heeretofore vnto him enterprising more for his honor then for any other Celestial God whatsoeuer And wee being lesse wise then they wee cannot as I gesse much faile to followe their foot-steps The propertie of gold replyed the Shepheard is sometimes changed Suger now and then becommeth bitter and sower and the brightest day is often darkened with thicke clouds euen so the wisest now and then forget themselues yet their faults ought not to be as a warrant vnto the posteritie hereafter to come because that vice which the ministers of any vertue doe commit shall neuer be allowed of by her voyce the same being as personall and not publike The Sages then hauing erred wee must likewise needes acknowledge their offence which taxeth them for committing the same Yet in the meane time saide the olde man see how Loue is here noted to be ouer-powerfull and mighty seeing he forceth and compelleth the wisest to doe amisse Truth quoth the Shepheard but as out of a heapeof corne we make choyce of our wheate and leaue the cockle So of the actions and proceedings of most discreet persons wee should chuse the best and leaue the worst For as they are men they are subiect to erre and wander astray Vertue being alwayes a good president vnto vs but not vice In asmuch as such as follow the vertuous shall be commended where those that imitate the bad shall be as much blamed and condemned Well then my good Shepheard answered the old man let vs giue ouer from arguing any further about this LOVE recount vnto me the subiect of thy griefe the cause of this thy strange wandring or miserable exile amongst these solitary dwellings Ah my deare Father replyed Arcas more dangerous is the second sicknesse then the first it being of the selfe same qualitie and happening not long after and so cruell shall I finde my troubles in imparting vnto thee my misfortunes as I haue heretofore felt bloody the effects of the same Cease therefore to enquire of mee about that where of the remembrance alone killeth me to thinke therevpon For what good can it doe vnto the whole to demand of the diseased the cause of his sicknesse and what profit will it be vnto thee to heare me recite my drerie Fortunes No no rather doe I thinke it meetest to conceale them least I should prouoke men to exclaime against the Gods when they shall perceiue how partiall and vnnaturall they haue bene alwaies against mee Woe is me excepting my mischance euery maladie all paine and euery sorrowe haue their proper remedie The Eternitie of the Gods is not more sure then my haples disaster still to continue is most certaine It is far from the nature of all other diseases for that which healeth others woundeth me O Heauens what hope of health resteth for that miserable wretch who when he hath embraced all the wholsom Altars of the Gods is yet as vnfortunate as euer he was before But what is violent cannot by the course of Nature be long permanent And if it
him and so to make flower thereof which he had rather should be done then to be ouer long kept for many times it groweth mustie lying in garners This Riddle being thus expounded the harmlesse Shepheards retired themselues for that night as also did melancholie Arcas Where we will leaue them vntill the next morning The end of the first daies meeting of Iuliettaes Shepheards THE SECOND DAIES MEETING OF THE FIFT BOOKE OF IVLIETTAES SHEPHEARDS WHAT Frostie Night neuer so bitter were of power sufficient to coole the outragious and burning heate of the Shepheard Arcas What obscure horror could bring a sleepe the watchfull thoughts of his waking euills And what deepe slumber take from him the continuall remembrance of his diuine Diana his spirit being alwaies troubled as well in the night as in the day and therefore far more miserable then the bruite beastes For whereas they repose themselues sometimes from their trauell he alwaies laboured and was still in paine he plainely perceiued the day beginning to lighten the hollow giering vault of heauen he viewed the glorious Sunne to gild and adorne the Roseall skie and he beheld beautious Anrora to weepe drerie teares for the death of her deare swarthie child yet all these brought no comfort vnto his griefes For such mindes as are ouer-cruellie afflicted with cares A Sentence are neither suâ— iect to the coolie rest of the night nor take pleasure at the glistering lampe of All-seeing Phoebus because they receiue no contentment neither in the one nor in the other Scarse did the breake of day appeare when this Swaine ariseth from his bed running vp and downe the Desart and searching for some fit place where he might bewaile his sorrowes at the full At length he entreth into a huge deepe Caue enuironed round about with sharpe brambles and pricking bryars able to terrifie and affright any excepting onely such as seeke for death whom wretched and wofull Caitiues feare not at all because euery houre they feele farre worse plagues then death it selfe and for that it is rather a pleasure then a torment vnto them to exchange their euill for good and to leaue a sowre and seuere Maister to follow and serue one that is milde and debonaire Arcas then being gotten into the bottome of this darkesome Dungion after he had for a certaine time bene mute and as one falne into a sound in the end breaking as it were out of a dead sleepe he began thus to complaine Ay me Alas What might I thinke to be the reason or cause of the miserie and vnhappines of man Is it the heauens that iealous of their good fortune scourgeth them with so great cruelties Or is it their sinnes which prouoketh the anger of God forcing him to stretch out his threatning hand against them No doubt it is this last for sinne onely and wickednes first opened the gate to death that he might come in amongst vs and so ouerthrow vs. It is for the punishment of such offences as we commit against the holy One that we are persecuted with pestilence famine and with warre So was Dauid plagued for his fault and Sodome and Gomorrhâ— with fire ouerthrowen So were the Niniuites threatned so was Ezechias admonished to repent O thrise happie the Godly who prosper like the fruitfull Lawrell and possesse in peace that land which is taken away from the wicked with tempestious lightning and thunder For so was the good Abraham blessed and so after his imprisonment was the righteous Ioseph with many moe besides But coÌ„trariwise most vnfortunate are the wretched wicked ones because they grudge and repine in that they suffer for the faults they haue committed whilst they are stung with Serpents from the heauens as were the Hebrewes heretofore when they began to murmure in the wildernes Beware how thou repinest against the Almightie Ichoua And saith the wise man for no good nor profit can come thereof We cannot then tearme the heauens to be the authours of our euils but it is the onely transgressing of the diuine commandemeÌ„ts which we cannot truely say be hath giuen vnto vs to breake them or that he hath giuen vs so hard a law as that it is vnpossible for vs to sulfill the same For it should be a most rediculous and vaine part of a Prince to establish and appoynt such ordinances vnto his Subiects as they cannot any way performe as to defelid or foâ—â—id them to grow to wax taller or bigger or other such fond and vnreasonable impossibilities as these be And therefore O how gentle and easie are the commaundement of God be himselfe affirming the same when he tearmeth his yoke easie and â—ight his burthen little and gentle to beare For Is it not as easie a thing for a man to doe good as euill when as in doing good he enioyeth the happie and blessed content of the quietnes of his minde without being troubled either with the feare of the lawes or the doubt of reproach or slaunder Besides he doth not dread death for he withdraweth himselfe from other hazards whilst he meditateth vpon the same whereas Theeues and Murtherers in robbing and killing euery houre incounter therewith before they are aware But say it hapneth vnto them yet doe they receiue it most meekely for sweet and blessed is the death of the iust that die in the Lord where that of the wicked is hatefull and abhommable Curtious then and gentle are the commaundements of the highest which his Apostle Saint Iohn approueth in these words Keepe his commaundements and you shall find them to be neither troublesome hard nor difficult to obserue They chase away hot boyling Auarice which burneth men with her vncharitable coldnes they banish all mortall ambition which weareth away the yeares of man before his time is come they take from them all murther and robbing which stifleth the necke of the wicked with an infamous corde they smother and kill adulterie which laieth hold as well vpon the health of man as on his honour and to conclude they extirpe and roote out all those vices which are deadly enemies as well to the bodie as to the soule By which we see his lawes are easie and sweet yea and most profitable and necessarie for the health and contentment of mankind which was the cause the other Apostle Saint Paul calleth the commaundement of the Eternall Iehona a godly iust and sacred commaundement it being the preseruer of Iustice the puritie of our liues and the very essence as it were of all equitie peace and goodnes For what crosses ouerthwart the soules of the godly who delight in no other thing then in the law of the Lord And what great and grieuous courses doe trouble and disturbe the consciences of the wicked who take a pride as it were as did Remus sometime in leaping ouer the walles of Rome to exceed goe beyond the bounds of the diuine ordinances of God which because they are not hard to be accomplished are not
men and that they might imploy him as they should thinke best then would not so many wretched Louers endure such cruell torments and bitter anguish as they doe but would quickly ridde themselues from out his cruell hands But alas they can no more get from him then the poore bond-slaue can get out of his chaines except it please his Lord and maister Therfore we must not say that men can order and bridle Loue at their owne pleasures turning him to good or bad purposes as they shall thinke best when it is quite contrarie and as they say Allo reuerso he playing the vsurping tyrant ouer them In the end of your speech to make amends you tell me that this selfesame Loue maketh a perfect and an eternall league of friendship betweene Gods and men in such sort as it forceth the husband to offer his life most willingly for his wiues sake and that the wife doth the like for the conseruation of her husbands welfare As Craccus A Similie who to cōtinue his wiues life shortned his owne And as Alcesta did who offered her selfe to die for Adentus her husbands sake Yet as sharpe and strong medicines engendred much danger and feare yea and many times are much hurtfull to the bodie of man so Loue during this amitie bringeth forth many bad and vntowardly children which alter and chaunge their mindes very much and are not a little hurtfull vnto both parties as the burning Iealousie which so much galled poore Iuno long since as the whoredomes with which Venus defiled the bed of Vulcan her husband with the number of Rapes vsed by Iupiter and such like bad stuffe So as you see so many euils to proceed for one small little good But as he cannot be called a bountifull and liberall giuer indeed who presenteth and bestoweth a small trifle to purchase huge and mightie riches Euen so Loue cannot be counted neither good nor healthfull when for one onely good turne he doth he yeeldeth forth so many sufficient proofes of his wicked and bad nature In no one action doth Loue merrit commendations for he respecteth neither reason nor Iustice and such things as are voyd of those two qualities can neuer deserue honour nor cause themselues to be counted perfect he is without reason in that he regardeth neither law nor kindred friendship nor acquaintasce no good turne nor any kinde consideration else so as he may come to obtaine what he desireth One while violating and breaking the lawes of hospitalitie another while those of marriage and then those of parentage and kindred He is without Iustice because he rauisheth and taketh away by force that which is none of his owne applying the same to his owne aduantage as if it were his owne proper goods raising and procuring by these bad meanes thousands of brawles and brabbles debates and quarrels and continuall warres and battaile In steed of seemely and fitte exercises he should acquaint young men withall he oftentimes maketh them so mad and furious as they sticke not to commit rapes to offer violence and to doe all the villainies that may be thereby infringing the peace and lawes of the common-wealth Well may he be compared vnto the Snake which the husbandman carried in his bosome to warme it being nie dead for colde which afterward went about to sting him for his paines So Loue in requitall and for amends vnto vs for the honour we haue borne him and because we haue so curteously entertained him stingeth vs with furie and rage and with iniustice and miserie these being the fruites which he bringeth vs and which are as it were the precursors and fore-runners of a most wofull and wretched death which end most commonly lighteth vpon Louers for furie is the daughter of sorrow and not of pleasure which our desire doth ouermuch couet And that I alledge nothing but Truth I will prooue it most apparant and plaine by a goodly Historie which if you please to giue mee audience I will deliuer vnto you Wherevpon they were all silent when the Shephcard thus began his wofull Tragedie LOVE author of all euill the nurse of dainties delicate The strange historie and wofull ende of proude Sycambra and loyall Zersira That chuseth for to soiourne proude in Pallaces of State Who makes himselfe be honored as Father of the skies In Courts of mightiest Kings and in the heauens mongst Gods likewise As yet scarce haunted had the Plaines congeal'd with Ice and cold Nor solitary Desarts strange which snowy mountaines hold He had but little in the Woods yet vsed for to be Permitting Shepheards quietly to ioy their libertie Who not so much as thinking once on him had no more care Then their small flocks forth for to leade along the medowes faire To watch and to defend them arm'd for armed still they were From roaring Lyon howling Wolfe or from the rauenous Beare Right happie is that man that hath then this no worser foe The pleasant sweetnes of his life to make him to forgoe Happy indeed if other thought he hath not in this life This trauaile being the cause of all content and foe to strife Withouten carke and care they past their time deuoyd of feare And from the Fatall sisters sheeres exempt and freed they were As iocund and as meerrily they liu'd as day was long No mestfull griefe was intermixt their sweet discourse emong Nor were their cheekes beblubbered still with teares cominually As wretched Louers who bewaile their woes with weeping eye Withouten sighes and sorrowes sad they liu'd most blessed than Nor they their Fortunes did reuile and as accursed ban No pittious Tennor such as this their Songs or Chantings had No mournfull note came heauily forth from their brests ore-sad As Louers vse their Musique sweet and merrie warbling voyce Much like that of the Gods of Woods that each thing doth reioyce No enuious malice mongst them was no poyson at their Table No proud desire the spring-tyde of their youth made miserable Exempt from all ambitious thoughts they were whose mounting dart Piercing into the minds of men doth make them often smart Nor any other passion strange had they or did endure Then such as did an earnest care for their poore flocks procure They thought they could resist Loues force and oft did iest at him Thinking he was not able them vnder his yoake to bring And as a stubborne Rock we see the Tempests rage doth scorne Who growing angry at his pride renues afresh his storme Vntill with flashy Laghtning-claps in pieces he doth breake His flintie stones whilst to resist his furie is too weake And with a boysterous Whyrle-winds blast on sudden casts downe all So as being cleft in midst it doth in thousand pieces fall Transporting here and there apart by violence so burst A Similie And with the clap of Thunder-bolt becommeth black as dust Alongst the medowes and the fields whilst they as trembling stand To see how raging Tempests fell ore euery
my heart in easing of which I brought away this her table My hope is shortly to returne backe againe after I haue set in good order certaine of mine affaires of great importance at what time if thou shalt remaine here as then I will take thee with me as I passe to the ende I may restore thee vnto thy sweete Countrey vnto thy deare acquaintance and vnto thy louing friends who remaine not a little heauie for thine absence Ah Knight An excellent discourse in praise of a Contemplatiue kinde of life answered the Shepheard what need hath he that is resolued to die retiring himselfe from the companie of men to returne into their societie againe What need of a Chyrurgian had Cato when after he had wounded himselfe hee was determined with himselfe to die Next after the dead are men onely happie who as these that are dead vnto the world neuer vse to frequent the world more And seeing thou thy selfe confessest that Vice doeth raigne and rage amongst men why shouldest thou enuie at this small parcell of contentment which mine Exile yeeldeth me tumbling me downe as it were from the very height and toppe of the same The right happinesse of man doth not consist in greatnes of Honor nor in the vaine pleasures of this world for how can you terme such accidents to be happie when they haue no assurance of continuing wherein the chase of Vertue is to be followed without tracing the paths of Vice at all For what trouble can there arise vnto a vertuous man can the losse of goods humble him no for he hath none Can the death of children no nor that for hee finding by Vertue that they were borne to die vexeth not himselfe at all in that they haue payd the debt which they did owe vnto Nature Can the want of friends no for if he iudge the time to be miserable in which we liue and as it were the father of all misfortunes he will then think his friends most fortunate to be departed out of this vale of misery Can the afflictions of his bodie neither for hee knowing the goodlines of vertue will soone find that glory is gotten with patience and that it is far better to suffer for a little while then to see himselfe mingled with the troupes of vnworthie persons whose memorie good name dieth euen with their bodies What then may grieue the vertuous Can the losse of his vertue No nor that likewise For it being a Treasure farre beyond the power of Fortune and as it were wholly diuine is not subiect vnto anie mortall decaying Byas was of the same minde who carrying his learning with him wisely affirmed An Example that he bare away all his chiefe wealth with him If then neither all the spitefull deuises of enuious Fortune neither all the bloodie cruelties of stepdame Nature can euer force or offer violence vnto a vertuous man what need hath hee at all to craue ayde of men or to enter into their societie when by their vices they shall corrupt his vertue Diogines was of mine opinion who being content with his owne vertue very boldly refused those Magnificall proffers of Alexander the great And so did Phocion the Grecian Fabritius the Roman and Pyrrhus that famous king of the Epyrotes Besides what feare of punishment for his fault doeth trouble the wise man what sodaine apprehension of losses what frightfulnes of paine what doubt of death or what thoughtfull care for worldly matters to come hereafter Anacharsis being pounded to death in a morter iested at death Socrates bought the same and Plato forced his owne selfe to take the like That Rocke that is founded most strongly within the midst of the Sea cannot nor ought once to feare least the weather-beaten Barks or Ships should breake it in peeces when contrariwise it is the same that splitteth them in sunder Euen so the wise man hath no neede to doubt least the force of any worldly accidents should carry him away seeing in all his Actions hee goeth beyond them and vanquisheth the puissance both of the Heauens and of Fortune But this power hath he not whilst he shal be ranging and running vp and downe amongst men spoyling himselfe through their vices but rather when he is retired alone by himselfe to entertaine vertue which as now keepeth and abideth in the woods since shee hath bene banished from Townes and Cities Our Sauiour CHRIST being to encounter with Satan chose not a battalion-field in the magnificall temple of Salomon nor in the publike Market-places of most populous Cities but in a solitary and frequentles Desart within which whilest S. Iohn Baptist kept he neuer saw the incestuous adulterie of proud Herod nor felt his own head cut off from his shoulders for speaking nothing but the truth He then that will be counted wise let him forbeare and flie from Citties where growe nothing but contentions and troubles for so did Ciccro Seneca very often lament because they were drawne from their solitary abidings to be imploied by the Roman Emperors about matters of Estate But now what vice can the wise man encounter withall here in these Desarts which may be offensiue vnto his Vertues Doeth he finde here any Iniustice No for such as haue nothing to loose and offend not the Lawes haue nothing to doe with a Iudge Doth he find ambition no for pouertie is neuer hated but rather pittied then spighted Doth he find murther no for vncouth wildernesses neuer breed quarrels Doth he finde falsifying of faith and lying no for here being nothing to be gained we need not to make our selues rich with lying Doeth he finde disloyaltie or subtil trecherie no nor that neither For the deceitfull deuises of the wicked and their aspiring hopes to become great doth not combat with the truth and honestie of our contented soules Seeing then all accidentall causes of sinne are here preuented driuen backe and quite taken away that may trouble the vertuous in his quiet rest deface his vertue offer violence vnto his constancie and bring hurt vnto the calme contentment of his owne minde Did euer any such man repent him of what he had done not any for of well doing A Sentence repentance neuer commeth Repentance beeing one of the most sensible sharpe and cruellest whippes wherwith men are much scourged because it neuer marcheth alone without shame and great hurt He onely is right blessed who at the very period of his life and at his last gaspe sorroweth not for any thing that hee hath done finding himselfe to haue no more to repent him of his former actions passed A blessed and holy abode then for the wise are these harmelesse desarts which bannish all vice and giue entertainment onely vnto vertue Vnto such a place did that godly Saint Duke William of Aquitaine withdraw himselfe when he was determined to leaue the world to followe God to renounce all vice to loue vertue to abiure all sinne and to honor pure Innocencie
If onely naturall passions bring men to be miserable because the successe of naturall things hapneth much against our will what then contrariwise can make them more happie then to be deliuered from the same Of innumerable troubles doeth he discharge himselfe who retireth himselfe from the world and betaketh him to liue in vncoth wildernesses where the mortall cares of worldly matters doeth not trauerse him nor the continuall businesses of Common-wealths trouble him nor the feare of any losse disquiet him at all That man who of long time before is prepared for some certaine kinde of Exploite or who long since is resolute to encounter against the shocke of Fortune is farre lesse miserable A Similie then hee who without euer dreaming of any such thing findeth himselfe on the sodaine entangled within her knottie Nets Euen so hee that many yeares before hath wisely prepared himselfe to entertaine Death calling for it and as it were still marching to meete it findeth the same when it commeth nothing cruell at all where on the other side hee that is filled vp to the very throate and as I may say choaked with delicious pleasures suffereth most vnspeakeable torments tormenting and vexing of himselfe with hellish griefes when he neuer so much as thinking thereof before heareth Death knocking hard at the gate of his heart to seaze vpon him and to kill him on the suddaine And yet it is not enough for a man to be wise and vertuous vnlesse he learne the skill how to continue and keepe his prudencie and vertue for to no ende is it to get A Sentence vnlesse we can keepe what wee haue gotten the consernation of which is as laudable as the labor to gaine it is commendable The onely best meanes for a wise man neuer to loose his vertue and wisedome is to shunne as neere as he can the subiect of vice euery occasion of blame and all causes of sinne which may very easily be done by him if he shall giue ouer and winde himselfe out of the subtill snares of the world As S. Ierom did conuersing keeping company with wilde beastes who are farre lesse viciously giuen then men For the perfection of Glory consisteth in the ende of the worke it beeing no reason at all that that wiseman should be commended who hath but begunne as it were to doe well no more then that Crafts-man ought to be payed for his labor who doth finish and make perfect but the halfe of the taske he tooke in hand to doe It is a small matter for a man to be counted for to haue bene wise and not to continue the same still for so better were it like Socrates to haue bene a foole and viciously giuen at first and afterwards to prooue most graue and vertuous Let man then seeke the meanes to continue his prudencie to nourish his Wisedome and to retaine still his vertue and then shall he be called wise indeed and a most happie man in that hee hath the ende of his life according vnto the beginning Not anie one is in right to be praised but after his death because we knowe not whether it shall please the Almightie to continue his good grace towards him of which hee maketh a shewe vntill his dying day So that if a rich Prince hath neede to demand ayde of a poorer then himselfe to assist him then lesse occasion hath the wise man who is rightly rich indeed to request the succors of poore vicious creatures to doe him any pleasure He that needeth not any thing to finish the contentment of his life hath as little cause to craue begge or intreat the helpe of anie other person The wise man then who is rich in vertues contented in minde and rightly happie hath no neede to seeke the companie of men through which he can receiue no other good then displeasure and vnluckinesse when he hath enioyed the same All that time which a man liueth busied in worldlie affaires of which the society and company of men is the occasion he cannot truly vaunt to haue had one small whole day of his life particular and priuate vnto himselfe his whole time and yeares being imployed to the publike benefite whilst in himselfe hee is full of sorrowe and griefe despite and waywardnes but no sooner is he let loose from the world and that he is alone without being hindered by any person liuing in some odde recluse Desart or other but that then his Life and Time beginne to be his owne indeed for then may he boldly dispose of the same according vnto his owne minde hauing no bodie to controll him but his owne selfe What is so pretious in this world as is our sweet libertie The little Bird desireth rather to die for hunger abroad as free and without the cage rather then to enioy euery daintie thing An Example whilst she is enclosed within her hatefull prison Whilst we liue amongst men we shal not only feele our selues to be forced to doe against our owne minds but which is worse constrained to submit our selues vnto the vniust commandements of mightie men being compelled to offer our selues as executioners of their most wicked desires For if bondage may in any thing be termed sweet and tollerable then must it be such as dependeth vpon a iust and lawfull Maister vnto whom reason is in steed of selfe-will and desire whereas to serue follow the vniust will of a wicked Lord Soueraigne is to make himselfe more wretched then condemned guiltie creatures are whom dying are suspenced from all their paine But this solitarie receptacle in these woods taketh away all these ills remoueth from vs these miseries hindereth vs of these misfortunes and doth countercheck all these sower disasters In this wildernesse then to enioy all these benefites doe I desire to spend the short remainder of this my life that when I am dead a small peece of ground may serue to shroud my harmlesse Carkas which is the onely cause sweete knight of the refusall of thy gentle offer which thou makest vnto me to returne againe into the world In requitall of which I beseech the immortall Gods to send thee all good fortune to make thee as happie and fortunate towards thy chast diuine and faire Iulietta as thou thy selfe wouldest wish whose rare vertues haue serued for worthie subiects vnto euery braue spirit of this our age Liue thē happie with her may the Heauens be propitious vnto thee in thy voyage to the end thou maist returne fortunate like Caster and Pollux to behold once more those lights of thine owne eyes and leaue the miserable Arcas to die here most discontentedly seeing he is depriued of that sacred Sun whose beames onely conserued his languishing life This said the Shepheard kept silence when Philistell thus replied vnto him In truth kinde Shepheard I cānot chuse but approue what thou hast spoken yet are there very few now adaies to be found that will follow thy counsell Although
the cause of our sinnes and so by consequence are not the occasions of our miseries For we may liue well if we will and liuing well and walking rightly in the commaundements of God we may taste of all happines without once as much as feeling the stroke of his heauâ—e hand to fall vpon vs. Then let vs chuse the best and leaue the worst and so shall we be free from wretchednes where if we make election of vice and refuse vertue we must not thinke it strange if God doth iustly punish vs for the same for euen humane Iustice which is but a shadow and a figure of the diuine correcteth and awardeth death vnto such as be malefactors and wicked violating their lawes most iniuriously After the same sort did God speake vnto Caine saying If thou doest well thou shalt be recompenced for thy well doing and if thou doest ill thy sinne shall be presently knocking at thy gate that is to say the punishment thereof shall not stay long but it shall seaze vpon thee for doing so badly But vnder thee shall the desire of sinne be subiect and ouer it shalt thou commaund So that if ve be scourged plagued we must impute it vnto our owne faults or we may auovd and leaue to sinne so wittingly as we doe if we will and so our plagues will cease but by reason we giue ouer our selues too too licenciously vnto the same and like beastly Swine wallow still in this filthie puddle we are afflicted by the heauen from aboue Thrice blessed then is hee that hath not transgressed the sacred lawes of GOD A Sentence which neuertheles he hath not done thinking thereby to reape reward for his so well doing for had hee done otherwise he had bene tortured and afflicted with many punishments That famous Iosuah one of the nine Worthies followed this aduise when he spake thus vnto the children of Israell Worship such Gods as you list your selues it lieth in you is in your owne power and autoritie to sacrifice vnto such as you please As for my selfe and all my familie wee will acknowledge none for true God but the HOLIE GOD of our fore-fathers Abraham Isaack and Iacob Thus you see it is in vs to doe good or euill as it is in the power of the Trauellerto follow what company hee pleaseth of all the rest he meeteth whilest he goeth onwards on his Iourney If we shall worship the true God as Iosuah did we shall liue happily as did our predecessours before vs but if we shall come to be seruants vnto Idols then shall our offences open the doore and make way for our afflictions and miseries bringing vs at last vnto vtter destruction for euer For our God hath presented vnto vs both good and euill Yet doeth he say Chuse the good onely that thou and thine may liue in rest and quietnesse Which was the reason that our blessed Sautour forgaue the sinnes of Mary Magdalaine the repentant for that said he she chose the better part which could neuer be taken from her That seruant that doeth ill against the consent of his maister can he iustly complaine An example when hee is punished for his faults If so why then seeing we make choyce of sin and iniquitie and God scourgeth vs worthilie for the same doe wee murmure and repine against him when we our selues and not he are the authors of our owne misfortunes in that we commit those sins which are the first motiues occasions therof God who in his owne nature is vncapable of sin who can no way receiue the accident of vice cannot be the author of our offences otherwise he himselfe should sinne which to thinke were meere blasphemie and sinning so he should become the sinner and not wee who should be but onely the simple executioners of his faults Being a sinner he could not be God no more then pure white can become coale black because God and sinne are so much contrary and different as they can neuer be in one selfe subiect nor one agree or like of the other Againe if God should force me to commit sin A Similie how then could he iustly punish me For can that Lord rightly punish his slaue who by his coÌ„mandement hath don that fault for which he is corrected In like manner what iust colour can God haue to inflict punishment vpon vs if he himselfe hath not only perswaded vs vnto the same but also hath constrained vrged vs as it were perforce to coÌ„mit this sin for which he doeth plague vs. Besides God hath not created man to be damned or lost hell being ordained only for diuels neither will he the death of a sinner but rather that he liue repent For if you your selues will saith the Prophet Esay harken vnto my voyce you shall eate the fruits of the earth in peace without being touched with any kinde of miserie It then lieth in vs to be fortunate and happy in abstaining and forbearing from sinne for our fore-fathers were blessed and liued in all tranquillitie peacefull rest of the spirit as long as thy abstained from doing what was ill but when they tooke once a contrary course then were they ouerthrowne and plunged in an infinitie of miseries As the Iewes were slaine ransomed and carried away as captiues by the Heathen and Pagan Kings when they had prouoked God against them by reason of the hainousnes of their faults and had purchased his iust indignation and displeasure against them It is our bad and leaud life and not God that bringeth vs into so manie miseries Who as the Psalmist saith is a God that hateth iniquitie a God that hath not appointed death for man and so mercifull as hee taketh no delight in his vtter ruine and euerlasting damnation For with his owne proper mouth thus did he speake vnto the Iewes O Hierusalem Hierusalem how often would I haue gathered thee together as the henne doth her chickens vnder hernings but thou wouldest not And as by our wicked behauiour we hasten the wrath of God against vs so by doing well we many times hinder asswage his anger and his plagues which he menaceth and threatneth to send vpon vs. So did the Niniuites by their hearty praiers vnfained repentance change and alter the diuine will and purpose of God breaking off that which hee had meant to haue done which as it is comminatorie so it is not alwayes necessarie it should be put in practise So the good King Ezechias by his contrite penitence by his earnest supplications hindered the Almighties determination which threatned him that he shuld die within 15. dayes after prolonging lengthening his life whole 15. yeares more And so Moses ofteÌ„times through his earnest intreaty withdrew the predestination of God which was then resorute and rosolued to suffer the Iewes to perish being then in the wildernes and murmuring against his holy Name But the Apostle saith If we be not of the number of
it were checked and controlled What neede hath any man to conferre with hellish Spirits about the knowledge of things to come seeing vnto God alone belongeth the certaintie of the same as long as wee haue a firme confidence and a strong beliefe that the Almightie taketh protection and care ouer vs as hee doeth of the least Byrd that flyeth in the ayre which also his prouidence nourisheth Then what occasion haue wee that we should haue any recourse or speech with Diuels who are the mortall enemies of God In this we shewe our selues either to misdoubt the diuine Bountie and Goodnes or else to haue no beliefe or confidence in his eternall and euerlasting power We are created of God only to eleuate our minds in contemplation to consider and to take knowledge of things present and not to formalize and frame our selues after that which is to come the knowledge of which he his owne selfe refused to participate vnto his Apostles therfore except we would presume to be wiser thē they we haue nothing to doe to talke with Diuells much lesse to inuite or constraine them to shew their puissance or malice because it is a kinde of vsurping ouer the power of the holie one vnto whom is reserued this correction or chastisement ouer these most damned Spirits And to conclude the hystorie of Saule may resolue vs in this doubt who lost his soule his life and his Realme for that hee forced a certaine Sorceresse to raise vp a Diuell who had the forme and shadow of Samuel Besides the Lawes of man condemne such to be burned as meddle with this Arte because they are as well enemies to God as men which neuerthelesse they had neuer done without iust and good considerations The other sort of Magique farre more wicked then this is so detestable and bad as it ought not in right to be tearmed by this word Science because it is an vsuall exercise of ill doing which these Inchanters borrow of the Diuell with the māner to finde out these Venims which is applied vnto the hurt and ouerthrow of all persons whatsoeuer Againe it hath bene alwaies worse punished than murther for a man may take heede of the one but he is most miserably betraied by the other The sword being able to destroy onely such soules as haue life whereas this Venim not onely killeth liuing creatures but all other hearbes trees and plants whatsoeuer Farre then be it from vs to exercise so wicked a studie as this is O stranger replied the old man is not he worthie of more praise that yoketh strong and fierce Lions then if he had done the same to little dogges and small whelpes that are of no courage Is not that Prince more puissaunt and more to be redoubted that commaundeth ouer a nation warlike and generous then he that hath vnder him none but base beggers and poore white-liuered peasants Euen so is not that man to be more commended who by his cunning and industrie commaundeth ouer diuels who for their sinne haue lost nothing of their former puissaunce in which they were first created but onely their eternall Beatitude then he who for want of knowledge and skill gouerneth ouer troupes of fearefull sheepe onely and ouer a companie of rude and simple peasants That person who by his art and cunning shall haue made that which Nature hath hidden A Similie in the deepest bowels of the earth framing through his rare skill this glorious golde which so much flourisheth and is in request throughout the whole world Is not he to be praised and esteemed aboue all other Euen so can that wight merit lesse than great commendation who by his wisedome knoweth how to signorize ouerspirits who terme themselues the Kings and Lords of the world For thou must vnderstand for thy learning that there be diuers kindes of spirits whereof some are extreame wicked and sworne enemies vnto man and other some there be gentle and curteous seruing to doe good in steed of hurting any one But what fault I pray you can you finde with conuersing with such Salomon on whom so much wisedome was bestowed had not he conference oftentimes with them and in the meane space did he ill No for he had receiued such great knowledge of God as the vertue thereof made him worthie to discourse with spirits and he himselfe being willing to instruct vs in that notable perfect Art left certaine writings of his behinde him which are much sought after by the Magitians now at this day which are called SALOMONS KEIES So that by this we may gather that if to haue communication or a parlie with diuels had bene thought a thing detestable and vniust Salomon had neuer talked with them neither he himselfe would haue left vnto vs in writings the meanes how to call vpon their names or to discourse with them Father Father replied Philistel all these reasons thou alledgest cannot defend this thy bad cause for neither ought we to follow Salomon in this because he made an ill end hauing forgotten himselfe most miserably in the latter end of his age and committed so horrible a fault as the onely remembrance thereof maketh my haire to stand vpright for feare neither is thy cunning herein to be allowed inasmuch as euery Science that proceedeth not from God himselfe and is not drawne out of the sacred fountaine of his immortall wisedome is not onely worthie to be condemned but also meriteth to be rewarded with fire That Magicke should be a Science ordained by God thou canst not maintaine seeing that our Sauiour Christ neuer taught it neither his Apostles euer learnd it as they did many other good holy and iust Sciences It is rather the Art of Eue who beleeued what the Serpent tolde her which was the cause both of her ruine and of ours For tell me I pray you what grace or goodnes can a man expect from his mortall enemie being not giuen vnto any thing by the corruption of his nature but vnto blood-shedding vnto wickednes and vnto extreame crueltie And so what can one looke for that may be profitable or good to come from proud Lucifer and his angels of darkenes they being the most deadliest enemies that may be vnto mankinde Besides with what kind of payment doe they paie themselues in the end for the seruice which they haue done vnto men Is it not with the pretious price of their soules which they ought to esteeme more dearely then all things else whatsoeuer What doth it profit a man to gaine all the kingdomes in the world if he shall lose his owne soale thereby And who euer knew Magitians to die well whose bodies oftentimes haue bene visible seene to haue bene carried away by these Fiends Ochozias King of the Iewes being sicke onely because he sent vnto the Oracle of Belzebub died most wretchedly by the iust commaundement of God how much more seuerely had he bene punished if he had had ordinarie conference with the diuels when he was
being the ordinarie whippes with which they scourge thē for their impieties but it is themselues that are causes of their owne sorrowes because they driue away sage Reason from them who is of might sufficient to deliuer and set them free The franticke Bedlem that wilfully killeth himselfe can he dying accuse any other of his disaster or complaine of a straunger when he hath murthered himselfe No more can a fond Louer hurting himselfe be angrie with the heauens who was not the cause thereof but he himselfe And herein they resemble little children that hauing done a fault lay the blame thereof either vpon their play-fellowes or vpon something else being neuer willing to confesse that they haue done amisse Fuen so they themselues hauing felt one burning in their brests the furious fire which in the end consumeth and destroy eth them condemne the powers aboue for the same But small reason haue they so to doe for they that vse it are rather counted to be full of rage and giuen to murmure then esteemed as wise and prudent persons And yet I cannot denie but that the heauens narurally doe as it were seeme to be bound to doe vs good but the accident oftentimes corrupteth the Nature The Parent by Nature is bound to loue his child yet if his his owne flesh shall be peruerse and ill giuen becomming a mortall enemie vnto his Father this right of Nature ceaseth and he is no more bound to doe any thing for him no more than for a straunger There is a iust law grounded vpon this reason which permitteth the Father being iustly offended with his Sonne to dishinherit him of his lands this being the very same punishment that the children of Sophocles suffered for that they most maliciously accused their Father to dote for age and to be out of his right wits onely because they would haue depriued him of his possessions and goods Brutus likewise stucke not to prosecute the death of his too forward sonne most cruellie and with great disgrace also because he had done as well against the Common-wealth as contrarie vnto his owne command So therefore although the heauens I speake all this against my selfe as well as thee Coribant for that I am as wretched a Louer as thy selfe art in euerie degree be our common Father and for that cause is naturally bound to doe vs good yet notwithstanding is he not bound to shewe vs this kindnesse if we shall gricuously and willingly offend him as the Accidence of the offence shall be more violent and strong then the naturall Right is which by reason of this quite ouerthroweth the other For as water quencheth the fire and maketh it cold as any Ice which by nature is hote burning and full of heate So the discourtesies and iniuries which we offer vnto such as by Nature were prouided to be our protectors and defenders drowne and extinguish all their deuoire and Right altering their good mindes from vs quite contrarie vnto that it was at the first A man that is by kinde borne vicious and bad and such a one as bringeth forth of the wombe of his mother wickednesse with him into the worlde may per Accidence through good education and bringing vp become vertuous and wise Euenso the Accident of iniuries and displeasures may chaunge and alter the curteous inclination of a kinde friend sowring and sharpning the same against vs as the Lees and dregs doe the sweetest wine And this mischiefe falling vpon our heads wee cannot condemne anie for it but our owne selues who are the chiefe and efficient cause thereof And therefore we are much in the wrong to lay the blame on him whom through our owne meere follie we haue made him our soe although he be slow and slacke to helpe vs we being falne into miserie although before he by nature was bound to lend vnto vs his helping hand and to assist vs in what he could certainely if we were well and godly giuen and without prouoking or tempting the Eternall Power aboue would we but confirme our selues in all our actions according vnto his desire keeping vs with the bonds of his commandements there is no doubt but he would aide vs hearing vs when we should call vnto him and would nor sticke to raine downe Manna as he did for the children of Israel nourishing vs in the wildest Desarts that be But what law can force or constraine him to shew vs this mercie when we shew our selues to be his mortall enemies going about to increase his wrath euerie houre against vs. But say that he were willing and readie as we are most vnworthie thereof to helpe vs and that it would please him to haue this pittifull and fauourable regard ouer vs yet may you be well assured he would neuer take any charge nor euer make any account of Louers for their griefes is not numbred amongst the plagues of other miscrable creatures the second cause whereof the heauens oftentimes are our sinnes being the first Loue being seene to be but a verie meere follie and therefore neuer moueth the heauens with compassion to heale them A great and grose error therefore it is amongst Louers to imagine that the heauens are the Authors of their paine but a farre greater fault is it in them to require their aide and assistance for Loue is not any kind of contagious disease causing men to die cutting off one after another and for that cause hath reason to implore the heauens for aide to helpe them as they doe when any great mortalitie or plague rageth amongst them but it is a sickenes that continueth still without dying with which onely sensuall persons and sooles and none else are infected This is the reason that we haue neuer knowne any Louers to haue bene cured through miracle whereas we find written in diuers learned bookes that the bodies of many men being dead haue bene restored to life againe and that many haue bene cured of incurable discases onely this vaine sicknes is vnworthie of remedie and reliefe because it proceedeth not neither through the anger of the heauens nor by reason of the contagion of other diseases but onely through our owne foolishnes Now as that amitie cannot be firme and strong betweene man and woman where they answere not one another in desires and affection although naturally they are bound to loue one another euen so the heauens cannot be accused of crueltie in not scourging mortall creatures if the cause which should drawe them vnto this charitable endeuour be taken away from them Let vs then no more exclaime against the Celestiall Power aboue but let vs thanke our owne selues that we deserue no better of him our sinnes being the cause he giueth vs ouer As the fellon cannot blame the Iudge that condemneth him to death nor accuse him of ouermuch seueritie in that he dieth but rather his owne bad liuing that brought him vnto so vntimely an end for he is not to be thought ill of who doth rightly
discharge his office wherein he is placed following the line of Iustice in all his proceedings though neuer somuch discommoditie happen thereby vnto the wicked because it is a vertue to punish vice and not any Tyrannie what punishment soeuer is afflicted vpon those that are â—ad and leaudly giuen Neuer trouble thy selfe then to crie vnto the heauens to assist thee in thy troubles for they are deafe at the praiers of Louers and are not obliged to require and make whole that sore which we through our owne foolishnes haue made to corrupt our owne bodies After the Nymph had thus schooled her Shepheard she without staying for his answere began to sing in a sweet note this Ode following Now that Boreus with his cold Doth this Countrie round infold And his Isicles displaies Whilst the Verdure greene he slaies We must end our life ere long And shut vp our mournfull song Now that more than cruell paine Brings our hopes for to be vaine And that Loue makes vs distill Salt teares sigrnes of ou kind will Needs we must our liues tearme end Vnto t'h eanens to ascend Now that such is our sad care As of helpe we helplesse are That crosse Fates seekes vs to grieue Why should we desire to line Better t is to die than still Follow what workes vs more ill Now that sighes and sobs and teares The subiects of our verses heares And whilst this plague gaines our hart Let vs likewise make it smart By a death that one day may Make vs victor euery way Now that skies with lightnings blast Forct our pleasures not to last And that Sunne no more doth shine We must yeeld to tempests time Loyall we will lay vs downe And goe willing to our Tombe Now that cold and chillie feare Haunts vs gastly euerie where Seeke we must by crueltie For to end our miserie For an end to euery thing Gentle death none else doth bring Now that burning fire are bright Hath our soules consumed quite Leauing nought with vs but greanes Lets our selues rid all at once Dying lets our courage prous Oenon like for Paris lone The Nymph hauing made an end of her drearie song began to speake a fresh in this sort I assure thee Shepheard though I sing yet doe I take small pleasure in the same for my note is like the tune of that snowy Bird which singeth in the Riuer Meander and yet with these my sighes the extremitie of my paine is somewhat slaked and asswaged Grieuously doth he die that is not able to disgest the potion which he hath in his stomacke so the griefe which is inclosed in the minde doth most suddenly choake vs vp if there be not some way deuised for a vent by which it may passe That Cannon bursteth into which powder is put if there be no void place through which the fire may issue forth There is not a heart be it neuer so couragious but the paine of Loue will make it to bend and breake vnlesse it ease it selfe with sobbing and weeping and yet alas these remedies are but as worthlesse Plaisters of subtill Chyrurgians who to keepe the wound the longer from healing to the end they may gaine the more of the Patient winne time still by laying such salues vnto it as rather make it worse then better For to speake truth indeed Loue passeth not away through length of time weareth not away with weeping nor is satisfied though we lament and sorrow neuer so much He is more proud and fierce more stubborne and hard than the Rocke that is made hollow with the often droppings of water And to giue you a sufficient testimome of the same besides that I my selfe haue had experience thereof I will report vnto you a strange Historie in which you shall haue a tast of millions of cruelties that he did committ bringing his louing flaues to their vtter ouerthrow in the end But what did I say I would display Loue in his colours Alacke it is impossible for I my selfe am not able to report the least part of mine owne griefes not much vnlike vnto the principall Actors of my Tragedie But it is all one I must and will report it Examples that are gone and past teach vs that come after how to liue well and beate plaine the way which leadeth vs either vnto blacke infamie or else vnto immortall glorie besides the times with such chaunces as they bring forth are found often to be like and agreeable in effects Harken therefore for now I begin my Tale. It is a comman speech almost of euery one that beautie ought to be accounted as an inestimable Iewell be stowed vpon vs by the Gods whom as it is thought it doth resemble they themselues hauing vouchsafed to honour it here vpon the earth to the end that men adoring the same may the better learne how to worship them aright For one would thinke it were impossible to encounter or meete with anything more excellent or that is of more power to commandouer the hearts of mortall men Notwithstanding all this I am of a contrarie conceit being of opinion that beautie ought rather to be christened by the name of the Fountaine from wheÌ„ce sprang forth in great aboundance all the misfortunes and calamities that happen in this world For the more beautifull a thing is the more it is desired this desire ingendring in the minde of man a thousand deuises either cruell vnhonest or vnreasonable to obtaine the same and to carrie it away because to purchase what one doth couetor like a man carrth not oftentimes to infringe and breake the barres of Iustice Honour and of Lawe imagining that the accomplishment of all things lieth in the effecting of his desire So as I am not of their mindes who place beautie aboue all other mortall things but rather iudge it to be more pernitious vnto men then Serpents whom they loathe and flie from as from their deadly enemies This beantie serueth for a Subiect and matter where vpon Loue may worke the better to exercise his most vnlawfull and tyrannicall effects in as much as without him he could haue nothing whereupon he might be working Now the cause of vice being taken away the effect thereof â—â—eth and he that shunneth the occasions of sinne can hardly or seldom offeÌ„d Only beautie is the occasio of all such enormities as Loue doth commit and therefore vpon her may we well lay the foundation of all humane calamities For what wickednes is there but Loue hath perpetrated and brought forth Helena the faire wrought the ouerthrow of famous Troy and all the Phrigian Nobilitie Bryseis the beautifull sowed discord and diâ—fention amongst the Gretian Captaines And louely Cleopatra filled the whole Sea and Land of Egypt with streames of goarie blood And now harken how I will confirme what I haue spoken to be most true by this Histone following In the Marchesse of Lomherdie a most sruitfull countrie there dwelt a Gentle man noblie desceded being Lord of a